Vikings conclude minicamp with meeting of past, present

When the Vikings concluded spring drills Thursday, the present met the past.

Following the final day of minicamps and organized team activities, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer gathered his players. He then introduced one by one 14 former Minnesota players who were on hand for an alumni barbecue.

"It was great," Zimmer said. "I think the players really liked it. I think the alumni liked it. As I told them, it's important to me that these guys who have come before us, and given all these players the opportunities they have now, that it means a lot to me."

Upon each introduction, Zimmer offered a brief biography. The players responded with polite applause.

"A lot of the guys are new," said guard Charlie Johnson, in his fourth Minnesota season. "They don't necessarily know the history and the players who kind of built the Vikings. So I think it's good for a lot of the younger players just to see these guys, hear their stats and hear everything. It kind of gives them a sense of history."